The Court has placed on hold almost all residential eviction orders, residential eviction cases, and residential foreclosure cases. Some “emergency” eviction cases and some open warrants for eviction can move forward starting June 5. All other eviction and foreclosure cases and eviction warrants are paused until at least July 25. New and re-scheduled eviction cases for failure to pay rent will resume starting August 31. Check the Court’s website for updates: https://mdcourts.gov/coronavirusupdate

Also, the Governor has ordered that tenants may have a defense related to COVID-19 in certain eviction actions for the duration of the emergency. And, the federal government has stopped landlords in certain properties from filing new eviction cases and charging fees related to non-payment of rent even beyond July 25, 2020. Seek legal advice about whether your property is covered under the federal law.

Some local jurisdictions like Baltimore City, Montgomery County, and Howard County have passed laws banning late fees during the pandemic. Some have also banned rent increases or limited rent increases. Seek legal advice if you are unsure whether your landlord can charge late fees or raise the rent.

The Court has also placed on hold all non-emergency court cases and most warrants as described in the answer above. You may want to send a letter or email to your landlord explaining why you cannot pay rent due to a job loss or illness. You may be able to enter into a payment plan. The landlord may agree not to evict you if you stay on the plan. You should get any agreement in writing and keep a copy of any letter or email.

For financial assistance to avoid eviction, please call 211. A number of jurisdictions have rental assistance programs or plan to start those programs soon.

Baltimore City is launching a program to provide help with paying rent for people who have lost income due to COVID-19. Applications will be open July 1-13.

If a landlord tries to evict you without a court order and the presence of the Sheriff/Constable or denies you essential services (water, electric, gas), that is illegal. If your landlord attempts to evict you this way, call 911 and ask for police assistance. If you are illegally evicted, you should seek legal assistance and consider filing a complaint in court against your landlord. Because the courts are only hearing emergency cases, the complaint should be filed as an emergency matter if you are trying to get back into the property. You should keep track of any expenses, including hotel bills and lost property. In Baltimore City, you may also press criminal charges against the landlord by filing a complaint with the District Court Commissioner: District Court Commissioner, 500 North Calvert St. #200, Baltimore MD 21202, phone: 410-767-5774.

You should communicate with your landlord about the problem repeatedly in writing (letter by certified mail, email, text) and keep copies. You may request a housing inspection from your local government. Many inspectors, though, are operating on a limited basis (in Baltimore City, call 311). If your landlord fails to fix the problem, you may file a complaint for rent escrow. You would then place your rent into a special escrow account with the court until the landlord makes the repairs. The Court plans to start hearing escrow cases again on July 25. If you have an open rent escrow case at this time, seek legal advice.

For new or postponed eviction cases, you will receive a notice about the new trial date. Keep all documents about loss of income or health problems and all communications with your landlord. For eviction orders/warrants that were already issued, the Sheriff will schedule and execute the eviction once the hold on evictions is lifted on July 25 (possibly earlier for certain cases as described above). You may or may not receive additional notice of the new date of a rescheduled eviction.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has encouraged landlords in subsidized housing to conduct remote meetings (phone calls) about income changes. HUD has also encouraged landlords to delay income recertification if you have limited or no phone service or if fear of exposure to COVID-19 prevents you from gathering materials to document income or signing the recertification. If you have a reduction in income, then you should email, text or leave a note for your landlord to report your reduction in income. If you have a Section 8 voucher, you should contact the housing authority by phone or email to report any loss of income as soon as possible.

Apartment complexes can take steps to avoid the spread of COVID-19. This includes screening visitors, limiting visitors, closing common areas, limiting gatherings in common areas, and cleaning touch-points such as elevator buttons, entry doors, and other features of the building.

Yes. You should continue to receive any in-home support or services you need, like a nursing aide, meal delivery, cleaning service, case management, etc. But landlords may limit visitors to only those that are “essential.” What is essential is based on an individual’s needs, not the landlord’s discretion. Your landlord may ask visitors a couple of questions before being allowed to enter the building.

Yes. All fair housing laws remain in effect during the COVID-19 crisis.